SS9: Mikkelsen closing on Al-Attiyah in Cyprus

The outcome of the Cyprus Rally remains wide open after Andreas Mikkelsen closed up to within 57.8s of leader Nasser Al-Attiyah by winning the second stage of the final day of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge round.

Mikkelsen, in a ŠKODA UK Motorsport UK Motorsport Fabia Super 2000, was 11.1s quicker than his Qatari rival, who is running first on the road in an Autotek Motorsport M-Sport Ford Fiesta RRC.

Sepp Wiegand was second fastest through the 14.82-kilometre all-gravel Gialia stage, 2.0s down on Mikkelsen, in his ŠKODA Auto Deutschland Fabia. He has now moved up to seventh place in the overall standings as a result of his endeavours.

Andreas Aigner was fourth fastest in a Subaru Impreza R4 STI. Jarkko Nikara was fifth quickest with Tommi Mäkinen Racing team-mate Toshi Arai sixth.